Ecclesiastes 1:9

Only that shall happenThat has happened,Only that occurThat has occurred;There is nothing newBeneath the sun!

Ecclesiastes 7:16

So don’t overdo goodness and don’t act too wise, or you may be dumfounded.

Ecclesiastes 9:7

Go, [my son,] eat your bread in gladness, and drink your wine in joy; for your action was long ago approved by God.iapproved by God Cf. 2.24–25; 3.13; 5.18.

Ecclesiastes 7:6

For the levitydlevity Emendation yields “praise” (shbḥ). of the fool is like the crackling of nettles under a kettle.eThis section, to end of v. 7, is apparently a continuation of the thought in vv. 11–12 and 19. But that too is illusory;

Ecclesiastes 1:18

For as wisdom grows, vexation grows;To increase learning is to increase heartache.

Ecclesiastes 10:11

If the snake bites because no spell was uttered, no advantage is gained by the trained charmer.

Ecclesiastes 7:24

[The secret of] what happens is elusive and deep, deep down; who can discover it?

Ecclesiastes 4:17

Be not overeager to golBe not overeager to go Lit. “Guard your foot when it [or, you] would go.” to the House of God: more acceptable is obedience than the offering of fools, for they know nothing [but] to do wrong.

Ecclesiastes 10:5

Here is an evil I have seen under the sun as great as an error committed by a ruler:

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The sayings of the wise are like goads, like nails fixed in prodding sticks.oin prodding sticks Meaning of Heb. uncertain. They were given by one Shepherd.pThey were given by one Shepherd Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields “They are accounted as a sharp ox goad” (post-biblical mardeaʻ).

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I put my mind to studying, exploring, and seeking wisdom and the reason of things, and to studying wickedness, stupidity, madness, and folly.

Ecclesiastes 11:8

Even someone who lives many years should rejoice during all of them, remembering how many the days of darkness are going to be. The only future is nothingness!

Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies turn the perfumer’s ointment fetid and putrid;aputrid Meaning of Heb. uncertain. so a little folly outweighs massive wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 12:6

Before the silver cord snapsAnd the golden bowl crashes,The jar is shattered at the spring,And the jugkjug So in Punic; in contrast to others “wheel.” is smashed at the cistern.lsmashed at the cistern Poetic figure for the end of life.

Ecclesiastes 2:14

The wise have their eyes in their head,Whereas fools walk in darkness.But I also realized that the same fate awaits them all.

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Also, if someone attacks, two can withstand it. A threefold cord is not readily broken!

Ecclesiastes 10:20

Don’t revile a king even among your intimates.jintimates In contrast to others “thoughts”; meaning of Heb. uncertain. Don’t revile someone who is rich even in your bedchamber;For a bird of the air may carry the utterance,And a winged creature may report the word.

Ecclesiastes 3:22

I saw that there is nothing better for people than to enjoy their possessions, since that is their portion. For who can enable them to see what will happen afterward?

Ecclesiastes 10:10

fMeaning of verse uncertain. If the ax has become dull and the edge has not been whetted, then more strength must be exerted. Thus the advantage of a skill [depends on the exercise of] prudence.

Ecclesiastes 6:6

yes, even if the other lived a thousand years twice over but never had his fill of enjoyment! For are not both of them bound for the same place?

Ecclesiastes 8:13

and it will not be well with scoundrels, and they will not live long, becauselbecause See note at 6.12. they do not revere God”—

Ecclesiastes 8:14

here is a frustration that occurs in the world: sometimes someone upright is requited according to the conduct of the scoundrel; and sometimes the scoundrel is requited according to the conduct of the upright. I say all that is frustration.

Ecclesiastes 2:18

So, too, I loathed all the wealth that I was gaining under the sun. For I shall leave it to the man who will succeed me—

Ecclesiastes 6:10

Whatever happens, it was designated long ago and it was known that it would happen; as for humankind, they cannot contend with the One who is stronger than they are.

Ecclesiastes 9:4

For one who is reckoned amonggreckoned among Lit. “joined to all.” the living has something to look forward to—even a live dog is better than a dead lion—

Ecclesiastes 10:17

Happy are you, O land whose king is a master and whose ministers dine at the proper time—with restraint, not with guzzling!

Ecclesiastes 3:1

A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under heaven:aI.e., all human experiences are preordained by God; see v. 11.

Ecclesiastes 5:12

Here is a grave evil I have observed under the sun: riches hoarded to the detriment of the owners,

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Just as dreams come with much brooding, so does foolish utterance come with much speech.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

And the dust returns to the groundAs it was,And the lifebreath returns to GodWho bestowed it.

Ecclesiastes 3:17

I mused: “God will doom both righteous and wicked, for there isfthere is Shift of a diacritical point yields “[God] has set.” a time for every experience and for every happening.”

Ecclesiastes 7:17

Don’t overdo wickedness and don’t be a fool, or you may die before your time.

Ecclesiastes 2:11

Then my thoughts turned to all the fortune my hands had built up, to the wealth I had acquired and won—and oh, it was all futile and pursuit of wind; there was no real value under the sun!

Ecclesiastes 8:2

I do! “Obey the king’s orders—and don’t rushcdon’t rush Moved up from v. 3 for English word order. into uttering an oath by God.”dThe answer to the inquiry about the implications of the proverb in v. 1 is given in the form of another proverb, of which only the first half is relevant and is enlarged upon.

Ecclesiastes 1:10

Sometimes there is a phenomenon of which they say, “Look, this one is new!”—it occurred long since, in ages that went by before us.

Ecclesiastes 2:25

For who eats and who enjoys but myself?gmyself Some mss. and ancient versions read mimmennu, “by God’s doing.”

Ecclesiastes 10:15

hThis verse continues the thought of v. 3. The exertions of fools tire them out, for they don’t know how to get to a town.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

And human beings cannot even know their time. As fishes are enmeshed in a fatal net, and as birds are trapped in a snare, so humans are caught at the time of calamity,ltime of calamity Euphemism for death. when it comes upon them without warning.

Ecclesiastes 2:22

For what do mortals get for all the toiling and worrying they do under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 7:8

The end of a matter is better than the beginning of it.Better a patient spirit than a haughty spirit.

Ecclesiastes 11:7

How sweet is the light, what a delight for the eyes to behold the sun!

Ecclesiastes 4:8

the case of a man who is alone, with no companion, who has neither son nor brother; yet he amasses wealth without limit, and his eye is never sated with riches. For whom, now, is he amassing it while denying himselfcis he amassing it while denying himself Lit. “am I amassing … myself.” enjoyment? That too is a futility and an unhappy business.

Ecclesiastes 8:15

I therefore praised enjoyment. For the only good people can have under the sun is to eat and drink and enjoy themselves. That much can accompany them, in exchange for their wealth, through the days of life that God has granted them under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:2

none!bEven love! Even hate! Humankind knows none of these in advance—none! Emendation yields “Even love, even hate, no one can know in advance. All 2are insignificant.” For the same fate is in store for all: for the righteous, and for the wicked; for the good and pure,cthe good and pure I.e., those who observe the laws of ritual purity. and for the impure; for one who sacrifices, and for one who does not;dCf. 4.17. for one who is pleasing,epleasing To God; cf. 2.26; 7.26. and for one who is displeasing; and for one who swears, and for one who shuns oaths.fCf. 8.2.

Ecclesiastes 3:16

And, indeed, I have observed under the sun:Alongside justice there is wickedness,Alongside righteousness there is wickedness.

Ecclesiastes 5:11

Workers’fworkers’ Some ancient versions have “slaves’.” sleep is sweet, whether they have much or little to eat; but the abundance of the rich doesn’t let them sleep.

Ecclesiastes 3:13

also, that whenever people do eat and drink and get enjoyment out of all their wealth, it is a gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

Thus the greatest advantage in all the land is his: he controls a field that is cultivated.eI.e., the high official profits from the labor of others; but meaning of verse uncertain.

Ecclesiastes 10:8

One who digs a pit will fall into it; one who breaches a stone fence will be bitten by a snake.

Ecclesiastes 5:5

Don’t let your mouth bring you into disfavor, and don’t plead before the messengerbthe messenger Some ancient versions read “God.” that it was an error, but fear God;cbut fear God Moved up from v. 6 for clarity. else God may be angered by your talk and destroy your possessions.